MLB: Harper back in Nationals' lineup

May 12, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

MLB: Harper back in Nationals' lineup

Washington Nationals budding star Bryce Harper was in the lineup Saturday, a day after accidentally hitting himself on the side of his head with a bat during Friday night's game at the Cincinnati Reds.

The injury included a golf ball-sized welt and 10 stitches above his left eye after he swung his bat in anger in a tunnel leading to the team's clubhouse following his fourth at-bat of the game.

Harper went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts in the Nationals' 7-3 victory Friday. After grounding out to second base in the seventh inning, Harper took out his frustrations on a wall with the bat, according to the Washington Post. The bat bounced off the wall and hit the 19-year-old outfielder above his left eye, drawing blood.

Harper returned to the game in the bottom of the inning and was seen in right field with blood on the left side of his face.

"I didn't think much about it," manager Davey Johnson said. "We put a band-aid on it, one of those butterflies. That's what ballplayers do -- break bats, throw helmets. That's not anything new."

The newspaper reported that Harper came out of the trainers' room after the game with a welt, stitches and clumps of blood in his hair.

His teammates also began calling him "Bam-Bam."

"I just got caught up in the moment," Harper said. "I want to do so well. It just got me."

--Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz left Friday night's game against the Cleveland Indians in the seventh inning with a bruised left heel.

The injury occurred while he ran through first base in the fifth inning. He is being evaluated today, according to the Boston Herald.

The newspaper also reported that Ortiz received a citation for his involvement in an auto accident before Friday's game in which no one was hurt.

According to the report, Ortiz's Audi R8 spun out of control while pulling out of a gas station on the way to Fenway Park. His car hit another car stopped at a traffic light and caused minor damage. Ortiz's car was damaged on the passenger's side while the front driver's side bumper of a woman's Volvo was dinged. A child was riding in the back seat of the Volvo.

Ortiz was cited for making an illegal turn.

"The good thing is that there were no injuries," Ortiz said. "I talked to the lady that was driving. I don't think she knows me at all. But she was good."

Ortiz said a traction control feature in his car caused the vehicle to spin.

--Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton's two home runs on Friday night put him in historically elite company to start the season.

His 17 home runs tie him with the Philadelphia Phillies' Cy Williams (1923) and Washington Senators' Frank Howard (1968) for the most through a team's first 33 games, according to MLB.com. Williams had 47 RBI, Howard had 34 and Hamilton 40 in 33 games.

Hamilton's 40 RBI through 33 games are the second most in the Rangers history, trailing only Juan Gonzalez (42) in 1998.

Hamilton has eight homers in his past five games, including the two he hit in Friday's 10-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

--The Chicago Cubs placed right-handed reliever Carlos Marmol on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, the club announced Saturday.

In his place, the Cubs brought up right-hander Casey Coleman from Class AAA Iowa.

Marmol, who recently lost his job as the team's closer, is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA and two saves in 15 appearances this season.

Coleman is 2-3 with a 3.48 ERA in seven games (six starts) for Iowa this year. His father and grandfather, both named Joe, also pitched in the majors. The Colemans are the only family with three generations of pitchers in major league history.

--Cleveland Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin is being scratched from his scheduled start tonight because of right wrist soreness, the team announced Saturday.

Righty Zach McAllister is starting in Tomlin's place. McAllister picked up his first major league win over Monday and is making his sixth career start.

The Indians are visiting the Boston Red Sox. Boston held off Cleveland 7-5 in Friday night's series opener.

More than two dozen people joined La Russa in the pregame celebration at Busch Stadium, where a No. 10 decal and silhouette of retired manager were unveiled on the left-center field wall, MLB.com reported.

"Whenever you see 10 out there, it represents the organization, from top to bottom, and the fans who supported us and allowed us to have the money to keep bringing in the talent," La Russa told the sellout crowd. "I don't take it personal."

La Russa's is the 12th number to be retired by the Cardinals.

La Russa managed 1,408 wins, including two World Series championships for St. Louis in 16 seasons. La Russa has 2,728 managerial victories in all, ranking him third overall.